09-16-2007, 01:30 PM
I'm sure Apple is looking at the unlock programs right now trying to figure out how to disrupt them. I'm sure this will be a cat and mouse game for a long time. As you note, Apple loses money on unlocked phones that would far exceed any warranty costs. Apple estimates 10m iPhones by the end of next year. If even 10% of those are unlocked on other networks that is $240M in uncaptured revenue for Apple. Surely that is worth Apple's time to staff a team to disrupt unlocking s/w as it comes out.